What Are Organic Pigments and Inorganic Pigments?

[Evan Lu]

What Are Organic Pigments

Carbon is a component of organic pigments, which are often bright, pure, light in weight, and highly tinting. They are composed of carbon atoms, which always exist in animal, vegetable, and synthetic organic chemistry and form powerful, stable chemical bonds. Lakes, metal salt pigments, and pigmentary hues are the three categories of organic pigments. Insoluble and naturally pigmented pigmentary hues. Toners and lakes are made up of soluble particles, often known as dyes. The dyes are chemically or electrically bonded to inert, colorless pigment particles in order for them to serve as pigments.

 

How Do Organic Pigments Make from Natural and Synthetic Sources Differ?

Animal or plant extracts are used to create natural organic colors. These colors are the original, less durable variations of a few well-known hues. For instance, cochineal beetle extract was used to create carmine, and mollusk ink sacs were once employed to create sepia.

In the past, the bulk of organic pigments was of natural origin. However, thanks to advancements in organic chemistry, synthetic organic pigments have largely supplanted natural ones, some of which mimic the colors of the former. Synthetic pigments tend to be more lightfast and offer a far wider spectrum of color than their natural counterparts, and their physical form and shade may be adjusted much more precisely.

 

What Are Inorganic Pigments?

Metals are present in these pigments. Inorganic pigments are made of specially shaped, naturally colored particles and are extracted from the ground or manufactured in a laboratory using metallic compounds. They can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The majority of inorganic pigments are opaque, dense, heavy, and permanently fixed.

 

How Do Inorganic Pigments Make from Natural and Synthetic Sources Differ?

The raw ores and natural earth hues are extracted directly from the planet. Iron oxides and hydroxides, copper, chromium, or aluminum, as well as varying proportions of clay, chalk, and silica, are the sources of their vibrant colors.

The inorganic synthetic pigments are mainly metallic compounds created in a lab. These synthetic materials differ from their natural mineral counterparts in that they have smaller particles and fewer contaminants. Compared to natural inorganics, they typically produce washes that are smoother and less sedimentary.